Podcasts by Into Africa
Fearless music activists. Savvy tech entrepreneurs. Social disrupters. Into Africa shatters the narratives that dominate U.S. perceptions of Africa. Host Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Africa program director and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C., sits down with policymakers, journalists, academics and other trailblazers in African affairs to shine a spotlight on the faces spearheading cultural, political, and economic change on the continent.
Further podcasts by CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies
Podcast on the topic Regierung
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Life in Mali Today: Unpacking Internal and External Actors from 2022-11-24T05:00
Mvemba is joined by Doussouba Konaté, Country Director and Global Program Manager for Accountability Lab Mali, an organization dedicated to shifting societal norms by working with young people to f...
ListenH.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia from 2022-09-29T04:00
Mvemba is joined by His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The newly elected President came into office for the second time in May 2022 promising a more...
ListenSurvey: Why Turkey Is So Popular in the DRC, And More from 2022-09-15T13:14
Mvemba is joined by Joshua Walker, Director of Programs at the Congo Research Group and Francesca Bomboko, Co-Founder and Director of BERCI, a public opinion research firm based in the Democratic R...
ListenThe Digital Future of African Development from 2022-05-26T11:00
What role does Africa's private sector play in the continent's inclusive growth? Cina Lawson, Minister of Digital Economy and Transformation in Togo, and Lucy Nshuti Mbabazi, Head of Africa Advocac...
ListenPublic Institutions are the Backbone of Democracy from 2022-04-14T12:08:44
Ken Opalo (Georgetown) joins Mvemba to discuss the strength of public institutions across Africa. How do parliaments, courts, executive offices, and militaries impact the quality of governance? Ken...
ListenIntractable Instability, French Failure, and Russia’s Role in the Sahel from 2022-03-17T13:01
Mvemba is joined by Nathaniel Powell (@natkpowell) to discuss instability in the Sahel. In addition to covering some of the conflict’s history, Mvemba and Nathaniel talk about why France failed in ...
ListenUbuntu: I Am Because We Are from 2022-02-17T15:24:30
Mvemba Phezo Dizolele is joined by author Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr to discuss Ubuntu, the African concept of humanity, meaning “I am because we are.” They discuss Akunyili’s recent book, I Am Because...
ListenUnearthing Africa's Role in Modernity from 2022-02-03T21:03
This is the first episode of the Into Africa podcast with new host Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, who joined the CSIS Africa Program as director and senior fellow in December 2021. Mvemba speaks with autho...
ListenThinking Differently About Africa from 2021-09-30T20:09
In Judd Devermont’s last episode as host, he is joined by Nnedi Okorafor (author), Patrick Gathara (journalist and cartoonist), and David Pilling (Financial Times) to discuss why and how the world ...
ListenAn African Strategy Toward China from 2021-09-16T19:12
What might an African strategy toward China look like, and what are implications for loans, debt management, African exports, and people-to-people flows? Judd Devermont is joined by Hannah Ryder (D...
ListenRestitution from 2021-09-02T13:50:36
What is the history of stolen African artefacts—such as the Benin Bronzes—and what can be done to rectify these wrongs? Judd Devermont is joined by Ciraj Rassool (University of Western Cape), Charl...
ListenAfrica’s Literary Scene from 2021-08-19T14:15
African creatives are using online literary magazines to publish their work directly to the web—resulting in more visibility, wider audiences, and richer conversation. Judd Devermont is joined by A...
ListenChina, the U.S., and African Security Chiefs from 2021-08-05T13:48
Judd Devermont is joined by Paul Nantulya (Africa Center for Strategic Studies), ret. Vice Admiral Michael Franken (AFRICOM), and Bonny Lin (Center for Strategic and International Studies) to discu...
ListenFranchising Terrorism from 2021-07-22T15:40
Judd Devermont is joined by Anouar Boukhars (African Center for Strategic Studies), Jason Warner (United States Military Academy in West Point), and Emily Estelle (American Enterprise Institute) to...
ListenThe Dos and Don'ts of U.S. Strategies Toward Sub-Saharan Africa from 2021-07-08T17:48
What does a consequential U.S. strategy towards sub-Saharan Africa look like? Judd Devermont is joined by Zainab Usman (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace), Nicole Wilett (Open Society Foun...
ListenPresidential Offspring from 2021-06-24T19:20:31
Several African leaders are setting the stage to hand over power to their sons. Judd Devermont is joined by Brett Carter (University of Southern California), Regina Sondo (Journalist), and Paul Mel...
ListenGrave Narratives from 2021-06-10T14:39
How can international actors achieve the balance between recognizing strides in economic performance and development while holding governments accountable for human rights abuses and regional inter...
ListenDemocracy Doesn't Come from the Sky from 2021-05-27T15:26:13
President Biden's upcoming Summit for Democracy is one of the administration's flagship efforts aiming to renew its commitment to democracy at home and abroad. What are the key themes of the Summit...
ListenThe Gangs of Africa from 2021-05-13T14:10
In several countries, gangs, militias, and self-defense forces have become part of the security landscape. What’s behind this trend and what are the consequences? Judd Devermont sits down with Comf...
ListenDeciphering Disinformation in Africa from 2021-04-29T14:40
Disinformation operations in Africa are hidden in discretely coordinated social media campaigns. How can activists across the globe detect fake news and tackle these issues more coherently? In our ...
ListenThe Price of Peacekeeping from 2021-04-15T14:55
America spends more money on Halloween candy than on UN peacekeeping operations each year. What is the true value of these missions and how much in financial contributions are required to earn a se...
ListenAfrica's Muckrakers from 2021-04-01T13:49
Investigative journalism in Africa is entering a golden age. What trends underpin new access to and the dissemination of hidden information? Judd Devermont is joined by journalists Micah Reddy (ama...
ListenPopulism Rising from 2021-03-18T17:27
How does populism manifest itself in sub-Saharan Africa in comparison to other regions? As part of a special live episode with a class at the University of San Francisco, Judd Devermont is joined b...
ListenAfrica on Africa from 2021-03-04T16:59
How do African media outlets portray politics, economics, and cultural life in their own countries and in the broader region? Aanu Adeoye (The Continent), Moky Makura (Africa No Filter), and Yinka ...
ListenCobalt and the Do No Harm Myth from 2021-02-04T14:40
Central to the green revolution and technologies of the future, cobalt is found in some of the most conflict-stricken and unjust places on earth. What is the industry's current approach to responsi...
ListenMaking Sense of Chinese Tech from 2021-01-28T15:06
The growth of Chinese technology in Africa has sounded alarm bells in Washington and other foreign capitals. Beyond security and surveillance risks, what, if any, benefits exist for Africans? Judd ...
ListenSauti Sol on Making Pop Music During a Pandemic from 2021-01-14T18:10
What role do musicians play in politics and advocacy, especially during a health crisis? For this special anniversary episode, East Africa’s biggest pop band, Sauti Sol share their thoughts on the ...
ListenSeason Three Preview from 2021-01-07T14:36
Welcome to the third season of the Into Africa podcast. As always, Judd Devermont has an exciting lineup of high-profile guests from around the world joining in to unpack African politics and polic...
ListenViral Diplomacy from 2020-12-17T15:19
How does multilateral diplomacy transform during a global pandemic? In our season finale, Judd Devermont is joined by Alex Rondos (European Union), Sanusha Naidu (Institute for Global Dialogue), an...
ListenExploring the Digital Currency Frontier from 2020-12-03T14:32
Covid-19 has accelerated the adoption of digital currency and mobile money platforms in Africa. How can innovations in FinTech lower the barriers to vital remittance flows? Judd Devermont is joined...
ListenAfrica Reacts to the U.S. Elections from 2020-11-12T16:17:46
The long-awaited results of the United States presidential election will shape the future of American democracy and U.S.-Africa policy for years to come. Are there lessons from sub-Saharan Africa t...
ListenIf You Build It, They Will Come from 2020-10-29T13:20
The elderly and those living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are two populations growing faster in sub-Saharan Africa than elsewhere in the world. What challenges do these vulnerable groups fa...
ListenVirtues of Virtual Election Monitoring from 2020-10-15T13:03
When it comes to election observation, there’s often one rule for the West and another for everybody else. But with a wave of democratic backsliding occurring around the world, now may be the time ...
ListenA Zombie-Free Recovery of Africa's Energy Sector from 2020-10-01T13:01
Energy development is at the heart of an inclusive African recovery from Covid-19, but how can we supercharge the region's power sector? Todd Moss (Energy for Growth Hub), Rose Mutiso (Energy for G...
ListenHow the Gulf, India, and Japan Think about Africa from 2020-09-17T16:18
Diplomatic engagement is at an all-time high across Africa. How can multilateral cooperation effectively address challenges such as Covid-19 and regional security? Judd Devermont is joined by Payto...
ListenHow Beijing Courts African Partners from 2020-09-03T13:24
China's footprint in Africa extends beyond infrastructure projects and financing. How significant are the relationships spun between Chinese elites and their African counterparts? In our eighth epi...
ListenConfronting the History of U.S.-Africa Policy from 2020-08-20T13:37
The last 70 years of U.S.-Africa policy is underscored by a bipartisan legacy of continuity. How can it evolve to meet new challenges and realities? Ambassador Hank Cohen (Former Assistant Secretar...
ListenLa Françafrique n'est pas morte from 2020-08-06T12:54
France has complicated and often contentious relations with Francophone Africa. What is Françafrique and how has it evolved in recent years? Judd Devermont is joined by Rahmane Idrissa (African Stu...
ListenGreat Power Debate from 2020-07-23T10:00
Since the start of the Trump Administration, the United States has identified strategic competition with China and Russia as a core objective in sub-Saharan Africa. Is great power competition the m...
ListenCovid Corruption from 2020-07-09T14:54
Critical sources of funding and supplies are flowing into the region to help the African governments battle the Covid-19 pandemic. But legacies of corruption are compromising the response efforts a...
ListenIt's an Infodemic! from 2020-06-25T08:00
How do we separate fact from fiction? What is the best way to tackle misinformation about the virus? In our seventh episode with African Arguments, Ambassador Dawn Liberi (Former U.S. Ambassador to...
ListenThere’s an App for That from 2020-06-11T14:15
Africa is undergoing a digital transformation, helping the region to weather some the pandemic's negative consequences. What opportunities exist to accelerate Africa's adoption of digital and mobil...
ListenWork in the Age of Covid-19 from 2020-05-28T15:53:48
How will the Covid-19 pandemic affect the future of business, trade, and investment in sub-Saharan Africa? How important will technology and automation be for economic development in the region? Gu...
ListenViruses and VEOs from 2020-05-14T13:54
How will the Covid-19 pandemic affect African governments’ ability to respond to violent extremism in the region? Will groups exploit the health, economic, and political crisis brought on by the pa...
ListenThe Shape of Africa to Come from 2020-04-30T15:11:11
Experts project that the next few years will be pivotal for Africa's growth and influence. What policies should African governments and their partners focus on to positively shift the region’s traj...
ListenNever, Ever, Explain Satire from 2020-04-16T19:40
Can humor be leveraged to spark political change? Bruce Wharton (former U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe), James Wan (African Arguments), and Nkechi Nwabudike (The Other News) join host Judd Devermont t...
ListenIn Hot Water from 2020-04-03T13:46
Rising temperatures across the globe will have profound consequences for Africa’s oceans and the people that are dependent on them for their livelihoods. How can countries work together in order to...
ListenPartner of Choice from 2020-03-19T22:33:08
African militaries are working with the U.S., China, Russia, and others in order to address their security concerns. In an increasingly crowded space, are Africans looking for a partner of choice o...
ListenIn Courts We Trust? from 2020-03-05T19:20:58
What is the role of the courts in ensuring that elections are free and fair? Are African courts becoming more independent? In our fifth episode with African Arguments, Jimmy Kainja (academic), Mart...
ListenThe Future of African Studies from 2020-02-20T21:41
Africa plays a major role in world affairs and will gain in prominence in the coming decades. How should the U.S. support African studies programs to develop the next generation of Africa experts? ...
ListenBringing African Legislatures Back In from 2020-02-06T17:26
How have African legislatures evolved and how do they shape political competition across the continent? Ken Opalo (Georgetown University), Janette Yarwood (U.S. House of Representatives), and Tyler...
ListenCity of Immigrants from 2020-01-23T18:39:18
Most migrants stay in Africa, settling in a neighboring country rather than traveling to Europe. How is this shaping demographic and urbanization trends in Africa? Host Judd Devermont is joined by ...
ListenFinding Our Own Champions from 2020-01-09T15:35:13
Local LGBT rights advocacy groups continue to form across the African continent. How can international advocates and policymakers support sexual minorities without making them more vulnerable to at...
ListenA Love-Hate Relationship With African Print from 2019-12-12T18:19:20
African prints are wrapped up in complicated issues around gender, tradition, and commerce. How do these dynamics affect their starring role in the creative economy? In our fourth episode with Afri...
ListenBobi Wine and the Making of a President from 2019-11-26T12:00
In this special anniversary episode, Ugandan musician and opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (aka. Bobi Wine), joins host Judd Devermont, Lauren Blanchard (Congressional Research Service) and Damo...
ListenSeason Two Preview from 2019-11-21T16:38:59
Season 2 of Into Africa starts next week. Host Judd Devermont unveils some of the exciting new features in store for the next season. As our audience grows, so do our ideas and this will be reflect...
ListenThe Russia-Africa Show in Sochi from 2019-11-14T06:00
With the conclusion of the first-ever Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi, how should the U.S. respond to Russia’s return to Africa? What are Putin’s goals for the region? Host Judd Devermont talks Russi...
ListenThe Russia-Africa Show in Sochi from 2019-11-14T06:00
With the conclusion of the first-ever Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi, how should the U.S. respond to Russia’s return to Africa? What are Putin’s goals for the region? Host Judd Devermont talks Russi...
ListenThe Russia-Africa Show in Sochi from 2019-11-14T06:00
With the conclusion of the first-ever Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi, how should the U.S. respond to Russia’s return to Africa? What are Putin’s goals for the region? Host Judd Devermont talks Russi...
ListenWhere’s Your Digital ID? from 2019-10-31T21:15
What role does digital identity play in unlocking Africa’s economic potential? Host Judd Devermont sits down with Magdi Amin (Omidyar Network), Cameron Hudson (Atlantic Council) and Victoria Cranda...
ListenLiving in Translation from 2019-10-17T16:15
How does language shape diplomatic engagement on a continent that houses such linguistic variety? In our third episode with African Arguments, host Judd Devermont explores this question with Nanjal...
ListenExpress Yourself from 2019-10-03T20:00
African creatives are using their talents to represent the region and reshape African narratives. Host Judd Devermont chats with innovators Fati Abubaker, (Independent photojournalist) and Mike Ach...
ListenThe Party Don’t Stop from 2019-09-19T16:30
Why are some political parties able to hold onto power for decades? Do they still connect with their constituents or is the playing field uneven? Host Judd Devermont, Anne Pitcher (University of Mi...
ListenToo Good To Die from 2019-09-05T21:45
Despite democratic gains in Africa, some of its leaders are seeking to ditch presidential term limits and extend their grip on power. In this episode of Into Africa, host Judd Devermont (CSIS), Ayi...
ListenWe are Young from 2019-08-22T20:15
How can the U.S. support Africa’s next generation? Judd sits down with two young African leaders, Beverley Hatcher-Mbu (Africa Policy Accelerator) and Ezbora Lubamba (Young African Leaders Initiati...
ListenToward a More Pragmatic U.S. Policy on China-Africa Relations from 2019-08-08T21:30
How should the United States respond to China’s rapidly expanding footprint in Africa? Host Judd Devermont (CSIS) teams up with the co-hosts of the China in Africa Podcast, Cobus van Staden and Eri...
ListenIt’s a Woman’s World from 2019-07-26T15:45
From Sudanese protest icons to top political posts in Ethiopia, Liberia, and beyond, women are rising rapidly to the helm of sub-Saharan African politics. Host Judd Devermont is joined by Riva Levi...
ListenThe Beautiful Game’s Soft Power from 2019-07-11T21:00
As African national teams battle it out on the pitch in Cairo, Host Judd Devermont (CSIS Africa Program Director) is joined by Trina Bolton (U.S. State Department), Ayodeji Rotinwa (African Argumen...
ListenWhere’s the “Poll” in U.S. Policy? from 2019-06-27T14:15
Should polling shape U.S. policy decisions in Africa? Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi (Afrobarometer), Christopher Fomunyoh (National Democratic Institute) and Brittany Brown (International Crisis Group) joi...
ListenThere’s No One-Size-Fits-All Transition from 2019-06-14T16:00
Supporting political transitions from military to civilian rule in Africa requires consistent engagement, international coordination, and diplomatic flexibility. If mishandled, it could result in v...
ListenUpdating the Coup Playbook from 2019-05-30T16:00
How do coup d'etats unfold in sub-Saharan Africa? Host Judd Devermont (CSIS Africa Program Director) sits down with experts Naunihal Singh (Naval War College), Max Siollun (Nigerian historian and a...
ListenPodcasting Across Africa from 2019-05-16T21:00
How can podcasts about Africa help counter outdated perceptions of the continent? Podcast hosts Judd Devermont (CSIS, Into Africa), Kim Yi Dionne (University of California, Riverside; Uhafamu Afric...
ListenCharting a New Course for African Cities from 2019-05-02T18:00
Africa’s future is urban. The continent will become 50 percent urban by 2030 and its urban population will double by 2050, yet policymakers have not revised their programmatic approach. In this rec...
ListenThe Famished Road from 2019-04-18T21:00
How do we build roads to the future? Former Liberian Minister of Public Works Gyude Moore (Center for Global Development) explains how cutting-edge technology can revolutionize Africa’s basic infra...
ListenCollateral Trade Damage from 2019-04-04T21:30
A trade war has escalated between the U.S. and China, and African economies are caught in the crossfire. On this episode, Bill Reinsch (CSIS), Catherine Chiang (CSIS), and Julius Agbor (Vanguard Un...
ListenThe Art of Analysis from 2019-03-21T14:00
U.S. intelligence analysts, as well as academics and political risk consultants, struggle to anticipate and assess leadership transitions in sub-Saharan Africa. Judd Devermont (CSIS), Jeffrey Herbs...
ListenThe Gulf, East Africa, and the Great Game from 2019-03-07T19:00
Gulf states are making moves on the continent, adding another layer to Africa's increasingly crowded and complex political landscape. Zach Vertin (Brookings Doha Center), Raechel Haecker (former De...
ListenKnow Your (Human) Rights from 2019-02-22T13:45
Human rights violations persist across Africa. How can the global community engage national governments to reverse this trend? Judd Devermont (CSIS) puts the question to experts Carine Kaneza Nantu...
ListenIt Takes a Million to Hold Us Back from 2019-02-07T21:45
A new generation of African protesters are using technology and innovation to call out injustices. Judd Devermont (CSIS), Mvemba Phezo Dizolele (Johns Hopkins University), Zachariah Mampilly (Vassa...
ListenDecoding the Continent from 2019-01-23T18:45
Big data is unlocking Africa’s complex problems. Olúseun Onígbińdé (BudgIT), Ariel Ben Yishay (AidData), and Hilary Matfess (Yale) share how data helps hold leaders to account, track foreign spendi...
ListenTruth, Lies, and Journalism from 2019-01-09T18:15
Journalism remains a vital but dangerous profession in sub-Saharan Africa. Rodney Sieh (FrontPage Africa), Jon Temin (Freedom House) and Siobhan O’Grady (Washington Post) join Judd Devermont (CSIS)...
ListenNo Peace to Keep from 2018-12-12T17:00
What happens when peacekeepers deploy to an active conflict zone? Judd Devermont (CSIS), Dr. Paul Williams (George Washington University), Alice Friend (CSIS) and SRSG Parfait Onanga-Anyanga (MINUS...
ListenWhose Election Is It Anyway? from 2018-11-28T21:15
With elections heating up across the continent, Michelle Gavin (Council on Foreign Relations), John Tomaszewski (International Republican Institute), and Idayat Hassan (Centre for Democracy and Dev...
ListenMusic is the Weapon of the People from 2018-11-07T17:30
Judd sits down with renowned Afro-beats star and fearless activist, Bobi Wine, to discuss how his music is inspiring Ugandan youths to challenge state repression. Damola Durosomo (OkayAfrica) and L...
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